The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has brought charges against seven individuals and three companies over a massive GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme allegedly orchestrated within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Among the accused is the former NPA Chief Executive Officer, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, alongside other current and former officials of the Authority and directors of private firms suspected of helping to launder illicit funds.
According to a statement from the OSP, the charges stem from thorough investigations launched in late 2024 into the misappropriation of public funds and collusion between NPA officials and various oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
List of Accused Persons and Companies
- Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former CEO, NPA
- Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator, Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF); MD of Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy
- Wendy Newman – NPA staff
- Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
- Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
- Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited
- Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Limited
Companies Charged:
Propnest Limited
Kel Logistics Limited
Kings Energy Limited
Details of the Alleged Offences
Between 2022 and December 2024, Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman allegedly used their positions to run an illegal extortion network targeting petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The OSP claims the trio extorted over GHC280.5 million under the guise of official operations, without any legal authority.
Amuah is alleged to have directly handed over GHC24 million to Abdul-Hamid in 2024, while an additional GHC227.2 million was routed through Newman under Amuah’s instructions.
The other accused individuals are said to have helped launder the proceeds through the three companies involved. The laundered funds were allegedly used to buy real estate, oil distribution trucks, and to construct fuel stations—measures aimed at disguising the illegal source of the money.
Charges Filed
The OSP has filed 25 charges in total against the individuals and companies, including:
Extortion by a Public Officer – under Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – under Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
Money Laundering – under Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044
One suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics Limited, is currently on the run and being pursued by law enforcement agencies.
Next Steps
The arrested individuals are expected to appear before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, with a hearing date to be announced soon.
The OSP has reiterated its dedication to rooting out corruption and urged public institutions and citizens to report any suspected misconduct.
